Charles Leclerc Highest-Paid Racing driver in the World

It's been a rough year for the racing driver, but at least he has his millions of dollars to ease the pain. 28-year-old Charles Leclerc has taken the No. 1 spot on People With Money’s top 10 highest-paid racing drivers for 2026 with an estimated $96 million in combined earnings.

UPDATE 25/03/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Charles Leclerc tops annual list of highest-paid racing drivers

In 2023 it looked like the racing driver’s spectacular career was winding down. Suddenly, he was back on top. People With Money reports on Tuesday (March 24) that Leclerc is the highest-paid racing driver in the world, pulling in an astonishing $96 million between February 2025 and February 2026, a nearly $60 million lead over his closest competition.

People With Money’s factors

In compiling this yearly list, the magazine considers factors such as upfront pay, profit participation, residuals, endorsements and advertising work.

The Monégasque racing driver has an estimated net worth of $275 million. He owes his fortune to smart stock investments, substantial property holdings, lucrative endorsement deals with CoverGirl cosmetics. He also owns several restaurants (the “Fat Leclerc Burger” chain) in , a Football Team (the “Monte-Carlo Angels”), has launched his own brand of Vodka (Pure Wonderleclerc - Monaco), and is tackling the juniors market with a top-selling perfume (With Love from Charles) and a fashion line called “Charles Leclerc Seduction”.

The ranking is significant for many Charles fans, who have been waiting for his triumphant return to the glory days for what seems like a lifetime.

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